Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total

IDA total: Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled was 4.52 million in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
4.52 million
Change on year
down 7.8%
Rank
17th
of 43 groups
All-time high
4.90 million
in 2019
All-time low
2.30 million
in 1985
Years of data
36
1985–2020

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total, 1985–2020

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M5.0M1985200220201985: 2.3M1986: 2.4M1987: 2.5M1988: 2.6M1989: 2.7M1990: 2.8M1991: 2.8M1992: 2.8M1993: 2.8M1994: 2.6M1995: 4.5M1996: 4.6M1997: 4.7M1998: 4.7M1999: 4.9M2000: 4.9M2001: 4.3M2002: 4.6M2003: 4.5M2004: 4.4M2005: 4.4M2006: 4.4M2007: 4.4M2008: 4.5M2009: 4.7M2010: 4.9M2011: 4.8M2012: 4.8M2013: 4.8M2014: 4.8M2015: 4.9M2016: 4.8M2017: 4.7M2018: 4.8M2019: 4.9M2020: 4.5M

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2020, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total stood at 4.52 million.

That represents a change of down 7.8% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total peaked at 4.90 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.30 million, in 1985.

That places IDA total 17th out of 43 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.

Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total, year by year

Annual values for Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total, 1985 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1985 2.30 million
1986 2.39 million +4.1%
1987 2.49 million +3.9%
1988 2.58 million +3.8%
1989 2.68 million +3.7%
1990 2.81 million +5.1%
1991 2.81 million -0.4%
1992 2.79 million -0.7%
1993 2.82 million +1.4%
1994 2.65 million -6.3%
1995 4.52 million +71.0%
1996 4.62 million +2.2%
1997 4.68 million +1.3%
1998 4.68 million -0.2%
1999 4.87 million +4.1%
2000 4.89 million +0.4%
2001 4.29 million -12.3%
2002 4.55 million +6.1%
2003 4.53 million -0.5%
2004 4.38 million -3.4%
2005 4.39 million +0.4%
2006 4.40 million +0.1%
2007 4.41 million +0.1%
2008 4.45 million +1.1%
2009 4.66 million +4.7%
2010 4.86 million +4.2%
2011 4.83 million -0.6%
2012 4.84 million +0.3%
2013 4.81 million -0.8%
2014 4.78 million -0.5%
2015 4.87 million +1.9%
2016 4.83 million -0.8%
2017 4.75 million -1.8%
2018 4.76 million +0.1%
2019 4.90 million +3.0%
2020 4.52 million -7.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 2.49 million 2.30 million 2.68 million 5
1990s 3.72 million 2.65 million 4.87 million 10
2000s 4.50 million 4.29 million 4.89 million 10
2010s 4.82 million 4.75 million 4.90 million 10
2020s 4.52 million 4.52 million 4.52 million 1

Countries ranked near IDA total

  1. 14 Myanmar 463,000 compare
  2. 15 Iraq 459,000 compare
  3. 16 Thailand 455,000 compare
  4. 17 Colombia 428,000 compare
  5. 18 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 343,000 compare
  6. 19 Mexico 341,000 compare
  7. 20 Italy 338,000 compare

See the full ranking of 219 places →

More public sector data for IDA total

All data for IDA total →

Frequently asked questions

What is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total?
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total was 4.52 million in 2020, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in IDA total?
The highest recorded value was 4.90 million in 2019.
What is the lowest armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled recorded in IDA total?
The lowest recorded value was 2.30 million in 1985.
How does IDA total rank for armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled?
IDA total ranks 17th out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
Is armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled rising or falling in IDA total?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA total data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled in IDA total. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/armed-forces-personnel-total-gaps-filled/ida-total/

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How this figure is calculated

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Armed forces personnel, total, gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
219 places, 7,420 data points, 1985–2020
Last refreshed

Armed forces personnel, total with 597 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.